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Springtime means opening the windows, sweeping out the dust from over the winter and starting anew. It is also the opportune time to clean out your wallet or purse, that junk drawer full of receipts and those overflowing file cabinets. But where to begin?

Sweep it
Go through your wallet and purse and fish out any receipts you may have accumulated. Review which ones you need to keep and why you kept them. Do you have receipts related to rebates? If so, sit down today, fill out the form, and either load on-line or put in the mail. Do you have credit card offers lying around that need to be dealt with? Or, how about passwords scribbled on post-it notes? Do you have other receipts tacked on a bulletin board or shoved in a kitchen junk drawer? How about all the paperwork from filing your taxes? Rake them all together!

Rake it
Once you’ve raked together all your sensitive papers, it’s time to decide what to do with them. For tax documents, in most cases, you should plan on keeping tax returns and any supporting documents (e.g., W-2s, mileage logs if you itemize, etc.) for at least three years after the date you filed or the due date of your tax return, whichever is later. Always consult your tax preparer, if you have questions. Receipts not related to refunds or extended warranties can be set aside for shredding. Do you have a pile of credit card offers taking up space in a drawer? Get them ready for shredding, too!

Shred it
So, once you decide what you need to shred, how do you handle it all? Tearing the documents in half and throwing them out is not the way to go! A home shredder is a good idea. It is recommended that you buy a shredder that crosscuts. In other words, you want all that paper ending up looking like confetti, and not in strips. Home machines are not typically heavy-duty, so be careful as to how much you shred at a time. If your shredder is not equipped to take on staples or other metal, be careful to remove them from the paper to avoid damaging the blades. If you have a lot of sensitive documents, many communities now offer Shred events. They enable you to drop off your documents for shredding for free, or for a small fee, and even watch it being shredded while you wait.

Secure it
Highly sensitive documents (social security cards, passports, birth certificates, wills) should be locked up in a fireproof file cabinet or lock box. Gather all other pertinent papers, like insurance forms, tax documents, mortgages, and put them in a secure location. Inform trusted family members where the documents are located and/or location of a key for the secure file cabinet or lock box.

A little planning this spring, alongside your traditional cleaning, can set you up for a great financial year.

This article originally appeared in GreenPath Financial Wellness’ Pathways newsletter.

Concerned about your finances? We offer GreenPath Financial Wellness services to our members as a financial management tool. As a member, you can receive assistance with:

With nearly 38,000 complaints logged in 2015, credit card fraud ranks as the second most common form of identity theft, behind only tax- or wage-related fraud, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

It can take many forms, including:

Scammers who try to sucker you into giving up credit card info over the phone.

Skimmers – devices hidden in the mouths of card slots at gas pumps, ATMs and even restaurants to copy card information.

Nothing but healthy skepticism can save you from falling for a slick hustler. But advances in technology are designed to better protect consumers against credit card fraud when making purchases in person.

EMV CARDS

Though they’ve been used widely for years overseas, EMV cards are relatively new in the U.S. They still have the thick black band on the back, so they can continue to act like the “magstripe” cards that people have been carrying in their wallets and purses for decades. The brainy component is the chip embedded in the card, indicated by a gold- or silver-colored foil square on the front.

When inserted into an EMV reader, the chip generates a unique, encrypted transaction code, or token. When the token reaches your bank, it is decrypted to verify your account and authorize the payment. Since the token changes with every transaction, a stolen token can’t be reused.

By comparison, the information on a magstripe is unchanging, meaning it’s easily cloned. In the U.K., where EMV has been in use more than a decade, the switch cut in-person credit card fraud by more than two-thirds.

Bear in mind that EMV chips are no safer than magstripes when you’re buying online or giving credit card info to someone over the phone. And for now, most gas pump card readers aren’t EMV-ready.

MOBILE PAYMENT SERVICES

“Mobile wallets” or “e-wallets” use the same kind of token technology as EMV cards. The difference is that instead of pulling out your card, you tap or scan your smartphone at retail checkout terminals.

Depending on the smartphone pay system, you may need to enter a PIN or scan your fingerprint to complete a transaction. With Apple Pay, Android Pay and Samsung Pay, you’re assigned a substitute card number that’s unique to the phone and tethered to your credit card number.

Using your smartphone or tablet adds another layer of security, because a hacker would need to have both the device and its password.

MONITOR YOUR CREDIT CARD STATEMENTS

It’s a good idea to check your accounts regularly. If you see charges you know you didn’t make or otherwise don’t recognize, contact the card issuer to clarify and, if necessary, dispute them. You may also want to set up a fraud alert or request a credit freeze.

ONLINE TRANSACTIONS

If you’re buying online, make sure you’re on a secure site before you enter sensitive information. Look for the https:// or a padlock at the start of the web address.

It’s also wise to avoid accessing bank or personal finance sites using public Wi-Fi, which can are wide open to hackers.

Does an electronic device play an active role in your life? Do you find yourself checking it repeatedly throughout the day? It’s probably the one thing you that you can’t live without. It’s your constant companion and resource for all things social, shopping, navigation, gaming, information, managing your finances, and more.

We’ve become a society that is used to instant and constant communication, checking emails, texts, “snaps” or “googling” something wherever we are. Why not add eAlerts from your favorite financial institution (that would be us) to your list? Set up free eAlerts so that wherever you are, no matter what you’re doing, you can stay in constant contact with your money. You decide which alerts you want. And with some alerts, you set up the parameters pertaining to the alert such as “alert me if my account balance goes below $20.” You’ll receive an email, text or push notification or any combination thereof from your account(s) depending upon how you decided you wanted to be alerted.

Simply set up eAlerts via Members 1st Online. Login to your account, look for the “Alert Me” bell icon, then click or tap the alert(s) you want and how you’d like to receive them. If you don’t have Members 1st Online, you’ll need to enroll. It’s easy and free. You can also set up alerts via our mobile app.

Stay connected with your money by using the following types of alerts:

ATM transactions – know when a withdrawal, deposit or both occurs on your account

A specific check clears

A debit card transaction posted

Your loan payment is due or past due

You’ve received an electronic deposit

Your holiday club, vacation club or certificate is nearing maturity

We hope you find this service helpful. Setting up alerts is also another way to help you identify any fraudulent activity on your account. If you have questions, visit your local branch or call us at (800) 237-7288 and we’ll be happy to help you.

Are you crazy for the holidays, spending thousands of dollars on holiday gifts, lights, entertaining, food and decorations each year? If so, you’re not alone. Many Americans feel the sting of holiday spending well into the new year. If you love to celebrate the holidays but don’t love the financial pinch you experience afterward, there are several great tricks for giving and celebrating, without breaking the bank.

So when you’re out battling the holiday crowds and heading to social commitments with family and friends, consider your wallet and protect your budget with these simple tips:

Know your limit. Sit down and plan out your holiday budget before you head to the malls
this year. Gifts, large or small, can really add up, leaving you with a hefty bill at the end
of the season. Estimate how much you plan to spend on presents and keep track of your
spending as you shop. Also, when checking out, think about that credit offer at the register and the cost of that point-of-sale discount. Is it truly worth it in the end or is it better to have one credit card for all of your shopping needs?

Plan ahead. You’ve done your budget and you’re ready to tackle the crowds. Remember, your holiday does not have to mirror what you see on TV, the internet, or on the cover of a magazine. Here are a few ways to save on shopping, whether online or in the stores:

Look for special “savings days” at your favorite retail stores.

Use coupons from your newspaper, online, text message, or in-store.

Take advantage of free shipping with online purchases.

Buy gifts throughout the year, not just during the peak season.

Trim your list. Do you really need to exchange gifts with everyone in your family? Consider cutting your list back this year. Or suggest giving a group gift to certain members of your family rather than individual gifts. A popular family gift is giving an “experience”
gift such as tickets to a show or sports game. Just because you had a long gift list last year doesn’t mean you need to repeat it this year. You may find that other members of your
family love the idea.

Reduce your stress. The holiday season is stressful enough with demands from
family and friends, not to mention social commitments for work or other groups.
Try to plan ahead as much as possible, avoiding last-minute buys will impact your
budget. Also remember to maintain your daily routines to keep stress levels low. If you
usually take a walk or go to the gym every day, take the time to continue the habit
during the hectic holiday months.

Enjoy the season. In the end, the holidays are all about enjoying friends and family.
Staying focused on time with loved ones and other joys of the season can help you to keep stress in perspective. Rather than feeling obligated to host an event every year, suggest a rotation for who will host holiday gatherings.

Remember that it’s much better to keep spending down and stick to your budget. It’s a
great feeling to start off the new year on the right financial foot. If you find yourself in way over your head or need budget help, we can help.

Since 1948, credit unions from around the world have come together to celebrate International Credit Union Day and the credit union difference. More than 217 million members of credit unions in 109 countries worldwide benefit from credit union services, and the number of members grows every day. By comparison, we serve over 330,000 members across the globe.

Today, Thursday, October 20, we celebrate International Credit Union Day and the impact credit unions make in members’ lives every day. Not only do credit unions offer great member service, better rates, and lower fees, we also provide access to financial services and improved economic opportunities for our members, both business and non-business.

Our Board of Directors, Senior Management, and associates would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation, gratitude and sincere thanks to all of our members who have accounts with us and who rely on us for their personal and business financial needs. We appreciate your business and trust more than you know. Thank you for choosing us as your financial institution.

To our associates, you help make the credit union difference by helping our members get in to a better financial position. You make things possible for our members when they may think that everything is impossible. Together we make Members 1st a place where dreams are encouraged and achievements are celebrated. We make things happen today so that our members have a brighter tomorrow.

Each and every one of us will continue to position Members 1st to respond to inevitable changes in technology, membership, and the business environment with swiftness, confidence, professionalism and credit union spirit. No financial need is too big or too small to be served by Members 1st. We will continually strive to be the people’s champion in the Southcentral Pennsylvania financial services marketplace. We promise to deliver the best possible service to all members, all day, every day.

Today, we are providing our members with our 2017 Calendar as a token of appreciation. Calendars are available at all of our branch locations. The calendar features photos taken by our members that they submitted to our pets and wildlife themed photo contest. Happy International Credit Union Day to all!

About Members 1st FCU

We are a Credit Union in Southcentral PA, offering a full line of products and services to consumers and businesses since 1950. With branch locations across our service area, there's a Members 1st wherever you are - and if you're out of the area, connect with us online and via your mobile device.
Federally insured by NCUA. We do business in accordance with the Federal Fair Housing Law and Equal Credit Opportunity Act.